Santa Loves Me

He (also know as my hubby) was so good to me. Here's the new toy he brought me. I'm loving it. Which also explains my bloggy break. I've been too busy playing to post. I'm back, though and will have more posts on all my other toys. Hope you have a wonderful New Year's Eve. I'm planning to spend a quiet evening at home with my hubby who has been gone for a few days.

Merry, Merry Christmas!

Hope you have a wonderful Christmas! 

Christmas Memories

Just taking a walk down memory lane. This post is for my mama and daddy. Thank you for the wonderful memories you made for Amanda and me on Christmas. Love you much!!!

Well, this one was taken just before a piano recital. Perhaps not the most wonderful memory-as you can see from our faces, but a memory that we can laugh about!

Merry Christmas Eve!!!

Happy, Happy Birthday!

Today is my hubby's birthday! He is an amazing man. I am so blessed to have him as my husband.

These pictures are perfectly fitting. He still loves to do these very same things-ride (now it's his 4-wheeler) and fish. What a cutie!

Jamie, I hope you have a wonderful day! I love you very much!!!!!!!!

Friday's Favorite . . .

a few days late . . .

For this week's favorite I've chosen the flower arrangements I made on Friday. My oldest (not in age but length of time) and one of my dearest friends, Stephanie and her husband Ben came to visit and I wanted a little something special for their visit. I found some red and white carnations (not usually a fan of carnations, but for this I think they're perfect) and mixed them in with magnolia leaves and branches from a pine tree. The carnations I picked up at the grocery store and the magnolia and pine I cut from trees in our backyard. These are my favorite arrangements, yet!

Fantasy In Lights (picture update)

Here are a few pictures from our trip to Callaway Gardens. We had a great time. The pictures just don't do it justice.

Fantasy In Lights

I’m still a child at heart when it comes to Christmas. One of my very favorite things to do during this time of year is look at Christmas lights. Well, Callaway Gardens is a Christmas light lover’s paradise. They don’t call it Fantasy In Lights for nothing. It really is spectacular. A ride through the park enjoying the lights and singing along to the carols is just the right thing to help my spirits soar. My family and I are headed there tonight. I can't wait! Hopefully, I can capture some pictures to share later.

Our Stockings Are Hung By The Chimney With Care

This year will be the first year my hubby and I will be at our house for Christmas day. I’m very excited about this! It did mean that we needed our own stockings, though. Growing up, my sister and I always had stockings filled with wonderful little surprises. Even though we’re all grown up, my mom still makes us a stocking. It’s a special treat I've come to treasure over the years. Since it’s so important to me, I knew hubby and I needed our very own stockings for our mantle. It just so happened that my mom (she’s really, really good-if it’s out there, she can find it) found these at TJ Maxx-they match our Christmas tree skirt. How perfect! I can’t wait to see what little treasures will fill my stocking. I still have to pick up a few little treasures for hubby’s. I am so glad hubby and I will be starting this tradition. It's little traditions like this that make Christmastime so special!

Christmas Pretty

I'm hoping to have a relaxing and productive weekend. We'll be visiting hubby's family and finishing up (hopefully) our holiday to-do list. Here's a little something I thought looked so pretty! Happy Weekend!

Friday's Favorite

I posted awhile back on my Mandy Bagwell dishes. Well, they're back-this time in the Christmas edition. I have these adorable salad plates sporting an ornament, reindeer, Christmas tree and present. I mix them in with my green and red dinner plates, pair them with these lime green and red ric-rac trimmed napkins and there you have it-a Christmas-ready table setting. A Christmas favorite for sure!

Pillow Talk

To add some Christmas flair, I needed some lime green pillows to add to the red ones on the couch in our sunroom. Well, Target and Wal-Mart didn't have any. Wal-Mart did have these.

So, my sweet and talented hubby transformed the napkins into pillows. That's right, he whipped them right up. We having a sewing machine, but I have no idea how to use it and it really scares me. My hubby, on the other hand, knows his way around this machine. It's a talent he's been hiding from me. I know, I know, it's just a few straight lines, but I seriously have no idea how to do this. He's going to teach me, though. Just so you know, and you don't think he's kinda weird, his mom does upholstery work, and both of his grandmothers were (and one still is) avid quilters. Anyway, I'm pleased with my new pillows. They add just the touch I was looking for. Thank you, sweet hubby!

Garland Party

The Nester is having a garland party and I'm joining in the fun. After seeing hers, I was inspired to make my own. Mine is not nearly as fancy, but I love how it turned out. Trimmed in light blue, gold and copper ornaments and some beaded garland, it totally transformed my mantle.

Blast from the Past

Do you remember this? I'm sure you may remember them from many years ago. I was so happy when my mom gave this one to me. This little ceramic tree reminds me of Christmas as a child. Both of my grandmothers had one. I have mine sitting on a table in my living room. Seeing it sure brings back wonderful memories.

That's a Wrap

I’m loving this wrapping paper from Hobby Lobby. It really is everything you could possibly want from wrapping paper. Let’s start with quality. This stuff is strong, not like that flimsy stuff you see this time of year that is so thin it is impossible to use. Plus, it has grid lines so cutting a straight line is super easy. Then, there’s the fact that the rolls are huge. You really get your money’s worth. And, speaking of money, three bucks a roll is hard to beat. Finally, let’s not forget style. This paper is gorgeous with the fabulous damask print. Seriously, could you ask for anything more? Happy Wrapping!

P.S. If you're keeping track-yes, I've missed a couple of days. Don't hate me. I've just been a little busy and quite tired. Maybe I can stay on track from here on out, but don't hold me to it.

Friday's Favorite

Keeping with my Christmas related posts, I've chosen to feature my Vera Wang china accented with lovely snowflake dessert plates and mugs. So elegant and beautiful, these pieces are a special addition to my Christmas decor.

Christmas Inspiration

Over the past couple of years, I've managed to accumulate this collection of Christmas related magazines and books. I pulled them out several weeks ago to begin searching for ideas and inspiration-not nearly early enough. Using small post-it notes, I've tagged several pages. To be honest, it's quite overwhelming. So many great ideas so little time. Perhaps next year I will organize my favorite pages in a notebook for quick and easy reference. For now, I'll just dig through these magazines a few at a time until I come across something that suits my fancy.

Bubblicious

I'm not talking about the bubble gum, but my bubble light. Last night I wasn't feeling so well and jokingly asked my hubby to go take a picture of something in our house Christmas related for my post. He willingly obliged. I had no idea what he had taken pictures of. As I looked through the camera to see what he'd captured, I saw a picture of our bubble light. I laughed. He said, "you may not admit it, but it's one of your favorites-you love that thing." He's right. I do love it. My mom got this bubble light for me several years ago. There is just something about a bubble light that reminds me of Christmas as a child-such wonderful memories. I think that is one of the reasons I still love Christmas so much. So, here it is, my bubble light-something so simple that brings me such joy!

Simplicity

I love shimmery, sparkling Christmas decorations. But, I love the beauty in simple things as well. Our guest bathroom has a couple of simple decorations.

This little snowman makes me smile. My mom gave him to me. She loves, loves, loves snowmen. I think of her when I see him.

I love the look of this wreath-a simple ribbon and a grapevine wreath. Hung just above the mirror, it's the perfect fit.

Three For Me

Last night I finished up our 3rd and final tree. This tree is perhaps my favorite because it sports traditional red and green. Here it is sitting pretty in our sunroom. So festive, I love it!

Hope you are getting all geared up for the holidays! It will be here before you know it.

Two down, one to go

I have two of my three Christmas trees decorated. Here's the tree that is in our living room. Coppery browns (yes, I made that color up), gold, a light turquoise blue and cream. I love the little sticky up things at the top. They add pizazz and every tree needs pizazz-don't ya think? What a great trend!

War Eagle and An Auburn Christmas Tree

Since today is our big game-the Auburn vs. Alabama football game-I thought it only fitting that I kick off my Christmas posts with my Auburn tree. Trimmed in orange and blue, this tree showcases my collection of Auburn ornaments.

A favorite ornament -given to me by my sweet hubby!

And, one with polka dots.

And, let's not forget-Beat Bama!

Friday's Favorite

Christmas! It's the most wonderful time of the year. I love it all. I'm busy getting my house decorated-can't wait to share! From now until Christmas day, I'll be doing one Christmas related post each day. So, stay tuned. For now I'll show you what I've been working with. And, there's more-these boxes are just the ornaments for my trees. Oh, I'm so excited for all that is to come! Happy Black Friday!

Giving Thanks

Today was a wonderful day spent with my family. Mama, thank you for cooking a delicious meal (twice)! Daddy and Jamie, thank you for frying that delicious turkey and letting Mama and me take our long nap. Amanda and Matt, thank you for the scrumptious pecan pie. Thank you all for loving me, supporting me and making fun of my wreath above the mirror. I am thankful for you all!